New research into Sydney’s nightlife
Councillors have unanimously endorsed a Lord Mayoral Minute proposing new research into late-night trading in Sydney.
“The research will provide important evidence on capacity and land use that is needed to guide further legislative, policy and precinct management reform, especially to establish cumulative impacts,” reads the Minute.
Previous research in a similar vein was publicly exhibited earlier this year and submissions will be reported to Council in 2010, and in June state laws were enacted which froze all new development applications for liquor outlets in night trading precincts.
The new research will measure pedestrian activity, land use diversity and environmental factors in Kings Cross, Oxford Street and the Southern CBD over four nights in early 2010 and again in winter 2010, says the Mayoral Minute.
“The research will collect data in four ways:
• counts of pedestrian movements past specific points in the three precincts;
• counts of instances of anti-social behaviour in defined sub-areas of these precincts, ie, specific city blocks/intersections;
• observation of key environmental factors such as crowding, availability of public space, police presence and business diversity over key times of the night; and
• intercept survey of a sample of pedestrians regarding their (i) trip origins and destinations, (ii) modes of transport, (iii) location of residence, and (iv) activities in the precinct (eg, socialising, dining, working, and shopping).
“It is proposed that the work be repeated every two years to monitor progress and changes.”
by Michael Gormly
